Does this make me cheap?

[postage stamp]

Because someone seems to think so.

We are going to Disney the week after New Years. I was online looking at various merchandise trying to get a rough idea of what to budget for souvenirs.

Well I came across a few websites that had some Disney stuff for discounts. I JUMPED on it. I got each of my DD's and my aunt the following

autograph book with pen

lanyard with FP holder

Drawstring back pack

Wallet

I plan on giving them those for Christmas so they can take them with us to Disney.

I also went on Disney's outlet website and got some stuffed animals that were on clearance and am planning on bringing them down there and giving them to the kids instead of buying something from the stores.

I thought I was being frugal and crafty, but I've been accused(by my husband who can't balance the checkbook!) of being stingy.

Your thoughts?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I think it was a great idea. I am always loking for ways to save money. I don't know about the week after Christmas, but during the week before alot of merchandise goes on sale at the parks and DTD and I got all the Christmas ornaments I will ever need 50% off, plus various other items, not just Christmas items. I think all mugs were 50%, T-shirts were 40%. I understand other things went on sale the week after we left, which was Christmas week.

Suzanne

 

[MissAndrea]

I think it's being smart!!! Especially if those were things you were going to buy anyway, why not save a few bucks? I like it! Don't let your hubby rain on your savings parade!

 

[Halbleib1]

I don't think it makes you cheap. Why pay more for something at Disney if you can get it online before going and save money to buy something else there. How about compromising and giving each person a little bit of money to buy something there as well that they might not be able to get anywhere else.

 

[postage stamp]

Oh, I'm not putting a moratorium on spending while we are there! I just wanted to take a bit of the sting out of it!

 

[Jill in Chicago]

It makes you generous! You are buying gifts for people. Gifts are not a necessity. They are given because you want to, not because you have to. Where in the world do people get the idea that where you buy a gift matters? Who cares where the gift came from? If the gift is perfect for the recipient then it is a perfect gift. Period.

 

[dogodisney]

Slap your DH upside his head (J/K) and tell him he needs to be thankful that you are trying to save some money.

 

[tigger51276]

Heck if that is stingy I'd hate to think of what I'd be called. We go every year and I have learned that the Mickey ears, light up toys, bottle carriers, lanyards, pins, autograph books, pens all get recycled and put away for the next trip. No need paying for those things year after year. Also I have totally gone to the Disney store and also the Disney outlet that is in orlando and bought stuff for my DD as it was so much cheaper than Disney and honestly she was just happy to get stuff. I'd usually put one or two things a day out for her to wake up to and told her the "Disney Fairies" must have visited again that night.

 

[aksivers]

We do the same thing. We buy some stuff at the parks for a special treat. The majority of the stuff I pick up at the Disney outlet store (or dollar store) before we go. I also recycle and have a Disney drawer so that when we pack for our next trip it goes back with us (ears, lanyards, pins pens, etc...)

 

[Dancemom03]

Heck if that is stingy I'd hate to think of what I'd be called. We go every year and I have learned that the Mickey ears, light up toys, bottle carriers, lanyards, pins, autograph books, pens all get recycled and put away for the next trip. No need paying for those things year after year. Also I have totally gone to the Disney store and also the Disney outlet that is in orlando and bought stuff for my DD as it was so much cheaper than Disney and honestly she was just happy to get stuff. I'd usually put one or two things a day out for her to wake up to and told her the "Disney Fairies" must have visited again that night.

What YOU'D be called??? Geez, I've never been called cheap but not only do we reuse light-up toys/fans/lanyards/autograph books/ect, plus visit the outlet for souvies, but the "disney fairies" haven't found their way into our room in years unless somebody lost a tooth first. Maybe I should loosen up and leave the door unlocked more often???

 

[Halbleib1]

Oh, I'm not putting a moratorium on spending while we are there! I just wanted to take a bit of the sting out of it!

I do not blame you there. I was just not sure if your DH felt that you would not want to spend more money on those that you are buying stuff for now while at Disney as well. That is why I mentioned the compromise. Not because I thought you would not spend any money at all there.

 

[Stacerita]

I think its a great idea. When we plan our trips to WDW, we let eveyrone know so any birthday/christmas gifts that would be coming our way will go towards the trip. Such as Disney Dollars, shirts sweatshirts and the like. I also do the same when I know someone is going. You were being smart.

 

[tigger51276]

What YOU'D be called??? Geez, I've never been called cheap but not only do we reuse light-up toys/fans/lanyards/autograph books/ect, plus visit the outlet for souvies, but the "disney fairies" haven't found their way into our room in years unless somebody lost a tooth first. Maybe I should loosen up and leave the door unlocked more often???

 

[postage stamp]

I hadn't thought of recycling the stuff! We don't have any ears yet, and I don't think we will be pin people, but if we are I'll remember that for sure!

 

[tigger51276]

I think its a great idea. When we plan our trips to WDW, we let eveyrone know so any birthday/christmas gifts that would be coming our way will go towards the trip. Such as Disney Dollars, shirts sweatshirts and the like. I also do the same when I know someone is going. You were being smart.

I do the same thing. My mom buys mine and my DD5 airfare every year for xmas and my family buys me Disney Dollars for my b-day and xmas every year. Because I lost my job 3 weeks ago we are making sure we have my DD's birthday before we leave so that she will have money of her own to spend down there (along with the Disney Dollars she has already earned over the last several months).

 

[NeedaVacation03]

Heck if that is stingy I'd hate to think of what I'd be called. We go every year and I have learned that the Mickey ears, light up toys, bottle carriers, lanyards, pins, autograph books, pens all get recycled and put away for the next trip. No need paying for those things year after year.

We do the same thing. We have a special box that everything goes back in when we get home and we go through it again before each trip ( and other times through out the year to relive the memories). The signatures in the autograh books gets dated so we remember which trip we got which ones and sometimes we attach a photo with them.

OP- I think your idea is great. I would love to get those as a gift prior to the trip. We buy our souveniers early and pass them out at Disney. Keep doing what you are doing. It is great!!

 

[postage stamp]

Oh I'm getting so many helpful hints!

(and I emailed him the link to the thread just to prove to him that I'm not STINGY!)

 

[DISdreamin']

Hey, we aren't all on the budget board for nothin'!

I did the same thing when we went to Disney this January - brought large stuffed Mickey and Minnie for DS and DD, bought some other souvies too. All were on sale for super-cheap and the Disney Store here, and I packed them down to FL with us so the Disney Fairy could gift them kids some stuff. The kids also got Disney Dollars to spend as well, but already having some cool gifts made the "I Wants" much fewer and further between, I think.

 

[stazmatic]

I think your DH will change his tune once you get there. Feel free to point out the autograph books for $8 that you saved on, etc. etc. He probably has no idea how quickly everything adds up. I'd bet he also doesn't know that every ride ends in a store. If your kids already have stuff they won't be as tempted by other stuff.

 

[CTdiznymom]

On our very first trip with our kids I did the same thing, only it was T shirts from Kmart. I gave them the shirts down there, and they never knew the difference! Unfortunately, they were unique to the ones being sold in the shops so people would ask, "Where did you get that shirt?"